Former Orlando Pirates striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane has opened up about the intense pressure surrounding matches against Mamelodi Sundowns during his time with the Buccaneers.
Mbuyane, who represented Pirates during his playing career, recalled how strongly those fixtures were viewed inside the club — particularly by chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.
According to Mbuyane, Khoza would personally remind him of the importance of the matches and make the club’s expectations clear.
‘Don’t lose against Sundowns’
Reflecting on his encounters with Sundowns, Mbuyane claimed he found the back of the net in every match he played against the Brazilians while wearing the Pirates shirt.
He also recalled receiving direct instructions from Khoza before some of those highly anticipated clashes.
“I scored every match against Mamelodi Sundowns when I was at Orlando Pirates.”
Mbuyane said Khoza would call him into his office before the big games and stress that defeat was not an option.
“Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza used to call me to the office, tell me how important the match was, and tell me straight to my face that he didn’t want any loss, only a win.”
He jokingly recalled just how uncompromising the message was.
“Whether you are drunk or not, don’t lose the match against Sundowns.”
Pirates-Sundowns rivalry runs deep
The comments offer an insight into the significance attached to the Pirates-Sundowns rivalry from inside the Buccaneers camp.
Matches between the two Soweto and Tshwane giants have regularly carried major significance in South African football, with players facing enormous expectations when the sides meet.
For Mbuyane, those encounters clearly remain memorable, particularly because of the pressure he says came directly from the Pirates chairman.
His claim of scoring in every meeting against Sundowns while at Pirates adds another intriguing chapter to the history of one of South Africa’s biggest football rivalries.
